1:8" for 300WM: Is this too fast?

[Brydawg512]

Hello all,

I'm eyeing the X-Bolt Stalker LR in 300WM for my hunting rifle. It has a 26" barrel with a 1:8" twist. I'm looking to shoot around the 200g mark with Accubonds. However, I'm curious... is this too fast of a twist for 200s? If not, what's the lightest/heaviest I could shoot without under/over stabilizing

 

[WildRose]

Hello all,

I'm eyeing the X-Bolt Stalker LR in 300WM for my hunting rifle. It has a 26" barrel with a 1:8" twist. I'm looking to shoot around the 200g mark with Accubonds. However, I'm curious... is this too fast of a twist for 200s? If not, what's the lightest/heaviest I could shoot without under/over stabilizing

1:8" for heavy for caliber .30's is about right.

The reviews for that rifle are pretty awful so I'd put a lot of thought into it before coughing up a grand for them.

I've shot a couple of them and at best they were 2-3moa rifles and the triggers are horrible.

 

[KyCarl]

Let's see what the other guys say but that sounds a little fast to me?
My 300WM shoots 190-210 Gr. bullets great and it's a 1-10 twist?

 

[Brydawg512]

1:8" for heavy for caliber .30's is about right.

The reviews for that rifle are pretty awful so I'd put a lot of thought into it before coughing up a grand for them.

I've shot a couple of them and at best they were 2-3moa rifles and the triggers are horrible.

Oh really? It's not the Max Long Range model, just the Long Range model. Do you have any factory rifle recommendations around the same price point?

 

[Brydawg512]

Let's see what the other guys say but that sounds a little fast to me?
My 300WM shoots 190-210 Gr. bullets great and it's a 1-10 twist?

That's what I was thinking. 1:10" is pretty standard for 300s and I think for a reason

 

[KyCarl]

Here's what mine did new shooting

Federal's with 190SMK worked pretty good?

 

[FEENIX]

That's what I was thinking. 1:10" is pretty standard for 300s and I think for a reason

That really depends on the bullet you're going to shoot, i.e., Hammer Bullets recommends 1:9" or faster on their 214s (https://hammerbullets.com/product/308-cal-214g-hammer-hunter/) and 1:8" or faster on their 227s (https://hammerbullets.com/product/308-cal-227g-hammer-hunter/).

 

[WildRose]

Oh really? It's not the Max Long Range model, just the Long Range model. Do you have any factory rifle recommendations around the same price point?

If I were looking for one I'd dig around till I could find a Gen2 Milspec Remington. I'm not a huge fan of remington but the Gen 2's have been awesome enough I even bought one in .260. With handloads it'll shoot .2's and .3's all day long. Everyone I know that got one in the 300wm version had excellent luck as well.

The internals, trigger etc are the same on the maxx as on the LR model.

 

[WildRose]

That's what I was thinking. 1:10" is pretty standard for 300s and I think for a reason

That was the standard for all just about all of the medium and large case 30's for about fifty years.

With the heavier and heavier, longer and longer bullets that have come out over the last two decades that's slowly been changing.

The 1:10 will stabilize all but the heavier bullets quite well 1:9 just about everything on the market today but even longer and heavier bullets are on the horizon, it's just a matter of time.

Also, if the trend continues in 10-15 years max on most state and federal lands we're going to be restricted to non toxic projectiles and the solids will run 10-15% longer than an equal weight conventional bullet thus requiring a faster twist to stabilize.

 

[dfanonymous]

I'm personally against over twisting if there's no need but there are some tricks to the trade in why people do such things.

Generally for special purpose built rifles, using long heavy bullets, in this case about 212ish gr and higher. One of those reasons is the obvious, but with more depth. That's stability, but not just stabilizing, but stabilizing in a specific gyroscopic stability factor that allows the bullet through transonic and into subsonic with maximum stability. Having talked to you in prior post, I'm not sure that is something that you will be doing with a cartridge like that specifically but if you are...there's that.
Next, there is a theory by Bryan litz that being above a specific gyroscopic stability factor...I believe specifically 1.5 assist in maximizing certain projectiles BC potential throughout the bullets flight. Again, these purposes are for extremely specific, and generally far shooting at or or around the point of a cartridges max range. I wouldn't consider this a benefit for hunting, or to the average shooter.

 

[Elkeater]

I have a x bolt hells canyon long range with the 8 twist barrel in .300 win mag. I shoot hammer bullets mostly. 181gr, 199gr, 214gr Hammer Hunters have all shot great. Settled on the 199s. Experiments with 215 bergers were successful with a .75 MOA load in about 20 shots but I never fiddled much after that because I fell in love with the hammers. I've also run 168 eld-m's sub MOA with no work up just a mid range charge of reloader 22. I was just using them to fire form virgin brass to my chamber.

So no I don't think there is a disadvantage to running a 8 twist in a .300 win mag. Also I'm not sure about that rifle but look into the m Carbo trigger spring. My trigger adjusted down to a crisp 2 lbs. and I think timney makes an aftermarket trigger for that rifle too.

 

[KyCarl]

As of right now I'm not at all sold on Mono bullets! I know what I know from 45 years
of machining at places with budgets that far exceed any bullet shop (GE)
And I know all about the turning issues copper poses and the inconsistent mixes from the smelters. Only ! maker has admitted what I already knew? So if I ever did try some it would be his. I never plan to hunt in Commifonoria wouldn't if they paid me!
So I'll stick with my cup and core ..Living in the Past....

 

[TBell]

Let's see what the other guys say but that sounds a little fast to me?
My 300WM shoots 190-210 Gr. bullets great and it's a 1-10 twist?

same here

 

[FEENIX]

That's what I was thinking. 1:10" is pretty standard for 300s and I think for a reason

The twist rate is bullet-design and weight driven. The same is true with the .277 caliber. For the longest time, the 1:10" twist is the standard and the 130s/140s are the heavies. Now, with the 165/175 Matrix VLDs, 170 Bergers, 156/168 Hammer Hunters, etc., the barrel manufacturers are now making 1:7" and faster.